Airship-propelling mechanism



v AIRSHI PROPELLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 26, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR July 6 1926.v 1,591,873

P. MEDIA-(E AIRSHIP PROPELLING MECHANISM s Filed Oct. 26, 1925 .'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w QQ \ l I i ATI DRNEY July 6 1926.

Filed Oct. 26. 1925 3 Sheets-Shea*l 5 .NNI

Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PAUL MEDIATE, F EAST YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

AIRSHIIIELPIROPELLING' MECHANISM.

Application filed October v26, 1925. Serial No; 64,988.

The object of this invention is the pro- -vision of a propelling mechanism for air craft that is provided with lifting propellers and with other propellers designed to be influenced by the currents of air and which operate other propellers in the nature of wind wheels which create a forced draft through tubes forming part of the construction and which propel the craft.

To-the attainment of the above broadly stated object and others which will lappear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the improvement resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and operative association of parts, a

satisfactory embodiment of which is illus-` trated by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement with parts brokenaway.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof. Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof. In thel showing of the drawings, I make use of a series of superimposed longitudinal.- ly extending tubes. Four tubes 1 constitute the upper series and an equal number of tubes 2 constitute the lower series, while three tubes 3 comprise the intermediate series. Each series of tubes are surrounded and supported by ring members 4 which have-web connections 5 between each other. The intermediate series of tubes 3 are of a less length than the upper and: lower series of tubes' 1 and 2, and the portions of the tubes 1 and 2`projecting beyond the intermediate tubes 3 have their ends widened at the upper portions thereof, as indicated by the numeral 6. The widened portions are in the nature of housings and have journaled f transversely therethrough lshafts 7. Fixed on each of the shafts in each of the housings 6 there is a fan propeller 8. The outer ends of the tubes 1 and 2 proper, at their juncture with the housings 6, have down-l wardly extending flanges S and these flan es are in the nature of baffle elements for ireciting the currents of air onto the lower blades of the fan propellers 8.

In the end tubes 3 of the intermediate se- 50 xfries there are fixed supports 9 for motorslO that have on their outwardly extending shafts 11 traction propellers 12. The passage through the central intermediate tube is uninterrupted and the motors 10 may be controlledr by mechanism actuated from cars lfwhich are suspended bynieans Mfr-om the outer tubes 2 of the lower series.

The cars 13, in the present instance, are in the nature of water craft, so that the device may be considered in the nature of a hydro-aeroplane.

On the sides of the outer tubes 1 and 2, there are fixedly secured open frames 15 and supported on each of these frames there is a Curved longitudinally extending sustaining plane 16. Of course the planes are suitably braced to the frames and to the tubes. In each of the open frames 15 there is a rudder 17 controlled by flexible means 18 leading into the cars 13.

By reference to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the shafts 7 for the fan wheelsor tractor propellers 8 are arranged` in pairs, one pair passing through bearing openings in each of the outer pairof upper and lower tubes 1 and 2, and centrally secured on each of these shafts 7, between the adjacent housings 6, there is a gear wheel 19 that meshes with a pinion 20 on a longitudinally extending shaft 21. Each shaft 21 is, of course, journaled in suitable bearings and the forward end of the shaft, which projects beyond thefront of the device, has secured thereon a screw 22.

rlhe traction propellers l2 are put in operation for the initial ascent of the craft. The craft is sustained in the' air by the sustaining planes. The propellers l2 are also-in operation when the craft is in the air, but, after the craft has attained a desired speed the screws 22 will be influenced by the air currents and the turning of these screws will revolve the projecting propellers `8. The propellers 8 create a forced suction of draft through the tubes 1 and 2 which will project the craft through the air, and after the craft has attained a desired speed the motors 10 y may be shut oif to permit of the-idling of theipropellers 12.

' The improvement is, of course, susceptible to such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, I claim 1. An airship propelling mechanism comprising superimposed series of tubes, motor driven traction propellers supported by the intermediate tubes, wind influenced screws` at the front of the upper and lower series of tubes and projecting propellers vin the rear of the said upper and lower series of tubes operated by the last mentioned screws.

2. An airship propelling mechanism, coinprising superimposed series of longitudinally directed horizontally disposed tubes, the inner series of tubes being one less in number than the upper and lower series, means connecting all of the tubes, motor driven propellers projecting beyond the front of the end intermediate tubes, air influenced screws at the front of the tubes of the upper and lower series, projecting propellers in the last mentioned tubes operated by the turning` of the screws and sustaining planes extending beyond the sides of the tubes.

3. An ail-ship propelling mechanism, comprising series of longitudinally extending horizontally disposed series of tubes, the intermediate series being one less in number than the remaining series and being of a less length than the remaining series, motor driven propellers extending forwardly from the outer intermediate tubes, said last mentioned series of tubes having their outer ends formed with housings and having bale plates depending from the inner aces of the housings, projecting Propellers revoluble in each of the housings, air actuated screws at the front of tbe upper and lower series of tubes, operable for imparting motion to the projecting Propellers, sustaining planes extending beyond the sides of the upper series of tubes, and rudders supported below and to the rear ot the sustaining planes.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

PAUL MEDIATE. 

